An endless journey to deliver an exceptional experience to American consumers and businesses

The cable industry delivers entertainment, information and telecommunications services to millions of Texas consumers and businesses.

Through these investment and innovation initiatives, the industry has exerted a substantial impact on the Texas economy. In addition, programmers have a substantial economic impact of their own as an industry – one that is both linked to and distinct from its role as a supplier of content to the cable industry.

Massive investment by the cable industry has transformed one-way analog video networks into two-way broadband platforms capable of offering digital, interactive and on-demand television services, as well as high-speed broadband, digital telephone, home security systems, and other information services. Through its aggressive re-investment of capital and efforts to deploy new and innovative services to consumers, the industry has fostered the development of a highly competitive market and has been a catalyst for broadband growth throughout the state.

Broadband adoption, however, continues to be a key issue. According to our partners at Broadband for America, people’s broadband adoption rates fluctuate largely based upon household income. However, once a household has a broadband connection the value of high-speed access to the Internet quickly becomes apparent.

Take a glance at the tax-and-fee section of your phone and cable bill: Texas has one of the highest communications taxes in the nation, roughly 22 percent for land-line phone and 14 percent for land-line video services. The cable industry has been working with the Texas Legislature to find ways to lower and equalize the tax burdens on consumers in today’s highly competitive video and voice marketplace.

The Texas cable industry is committed to educating consumers and providing resources to ensure that children enjoy a safe and fulfilling Internet experience. As a leading provider of high-speed broadband and TV , the cable industry shares parents’ desires to keep children safe from online and TV content that a parent may deem inappropriate. Cable’s long-standing commitment to helping parents manage media includes providing a wide range of tools, information and resources to help better shape and manage their family’s Internet and TV use.

Welcome to the new Golden Age of TV, where America’s elite entertainment is found in the home. Cable’s video platform has become the creative canvas where the world’s top writers, directors and actors are producing cinema-quality programming that is dominating the awards circuit and the TV ratings.

Cable’s business model gives storytellers the flexibility to take risks and craft imaginative and groundbreaking programming. Cable has opened the doors to some of the best television ever created. As HBO’s Girls star and creator Lena Dunham said at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards, “[HBO is] the only place to have made a show like this. Cable television is the only place where I’m going to get the kinds of stories I want to tell funded.”